Player Watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

[TEESSIDE1]

I’m on the fence re Hojbjerg. I agree with many posters that’s he’s an excellent player to bring on to see out a game but he’s a round peg in a square hole when he starts games.

Part of me would keep him as squad player but when I think about it that would leave us with:

Bissouma, Sarr, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Skipp and soon to be Bergvall. Plus Lo Celso if he ever stays fit.

Lo Celso may or may not leave in the summer and Hojbjerg is better than Skipp. However, we’re still a quality player light in central midfield and if we manage to sign one that would put Hojbjerg as 5th or 6th choice. If he’s happy being that player then great but under no circumstances should we be keeping him if it thwarts our need to bring in another quality addition to compliment Bissouma, Sarr and Bentancur.

 

[GutBucket]

Would be great as squad player but he's too good for that, he will want to leave somewhere where he will start most games. We will probably sign someone similar to Ederson or Gallagher, we need midfielders with pace/agility considering our high line. I think that he is similar to Dier, great professional and useful player in the right tactical setup, but not for Ange.

 

[easley91]

I respect him, but this summer is the time to part ways. We have to be ruthless in this regard to fringe players. We may appreciate the job they do in the immediate term, but long term we have to start looking at moving them on. No more contract extensions just because.

 

[Styopa]

I respect him, but this summer is the time to part ways. We have to be ruthless in this regard to fringe players. We may appreciate the job they do in the immediate term, but long term we have to start looking at moving them on. No more contract extensions just because.

I agree, but in this case wasn’t it that Hojbjerg didn’t want to go, at least not to the clubs who approached him?

You can put pressure on players to leave but it’s difficult to force them.

I know we can take lower fees sometimes which will help. But I think it’s also the salaries some of these guys are on, which they won’t get elsewhere.

 

[easley91]

I agree, but in this case wasn’t it that Hojbjerg didn’t want to go, at least not to the clubs who approached him?

You can put pressure on players to leave but it’s difficult to force them.

I know we can take lower fees sometimes which will help. But I think it’s also the salaries some of these guys are on, which they won’t get elsewhere.

I have always said there are multiple parties in doing deals, the player is a major part obviously. But we can't keep giving contract extensions to players we actively want to sell (even if they don't want to go). Otherwise we will be in an endless cycle like we have been for umpteen years trying to move players off the books where we end up loaning for a season and move the problem to the following summer.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Hojbjerg's real problems are all off the ball.

He drifts out of position and chases the ball instead of picking up his man.

On the ball he has very good long range passing ability and can be a real asset.

 

[bubble07]

Definitely been a better than decent signing for us. Basically I feel we have got our moneys worth and some with him

But he needs to go along with skipp and GLC for a player who can genuinely compete with Bissouma/Sarr for a starting spot then wr are sorted in that area

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

 

[worcestersauce]

Pierre-Emille Hojbjerg came on against Luton and once again closed the game out for the win. That's still 100% success rate for him.
"The Closer"

 

[Pistols At Dawn]

Based on currently form, methinks PEH should actually start in the hole over Bissouma for now. Build the midfield around him.

 

[allatsea]

We'll regret letting him go if we do this summer.

 

[tommyt]

There are better players than Hojbjerg. Just not at this club at this moment

Fair fucks to him

 

[spurs mental]

We'll regret letting him go if we do this summer.

We've looked much better with him in the team lately. Better passing than Bissouma and a far more calming presence.

The long diagonal out to Werner got us moving for the 3rd goal. Biss doesn't have that in the locker.

 

[whitechina]

I have always liked PEH
I'm sure he wants to leave- I wish he'd stay as he's great at coming on to change things up and to see out games.
He's been a model pro from what I've seen/ read about him. If he goes best wishes from me.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Changed the game yesterday. If you can’t see that, you don’t have eyes!

 

[kernowspurscoach1977]

I like him as a player and think he has a calming influence on the team

I think his passing and shooting are pretty decent but he has always a sloppiness element in every game he plays - I think when he is under pressure at all he gives the ball away far to easily

Last night we got
Away with it and it did not cost us

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Changed the game yesterday. If you can’t see that, you don’t have eyes!

So not Bentancur coming on and playing deeper than Sarr and giving us another player who’s technically great on the ball in the initial build up.

 

[WhiteStripe]

So not Bentancur coming on and playing deeper than Sarr and giving us another player who’s technically great on the ball in the initial build up.

Yes. He also changed the game. But this is the Hojbjerg thread. He came on, sat in the hole, played it simple. Made some key passes. Moved to make the angle and was basically faultless for the first 20 minutes which led to us winning the game.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Yes. He also changed the game. But this is the Hojbjerg thread. He came on, sat in the hole, played it simple. Made some key passes. Moved to make the angle and was basically faultless for the first 20 minutes which led to us winning the game.

Maybe he helped change the game, but more a positional thing from Postecoglu rather than a quality difference. Just feel like Bisoumma’s getting the shitty end of the stick here. Time wise he was at least as good individually as Hobjerg and the dm position was more isolated in the first half.

The biggest difference was we got a quick second after the goal from nothing from VDV which killed any fight back from Forest but we were very sloppy for at least the last twenty minutes of that game imo.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Maybe he helped change the game, but more a positional thing from Postecoglu rather than a quality difference. Just feel like Bisoumma’s getting the shitty end of the stick here. Time wise he was at least as good individually as Hobjerg and the dm position was more isolated in the first half.

The biggest difference was we got a quick second after the goal from nothing from VDV which killed any fight back from Forest but we were very sloppy for at least the last twenty minutes of that game imo.

I disagree. Bissouma was awful. Slow, hiding, out of position and lazy. I called him and his general play as an issue accompanied with Sarrs positioning well before half time. Hojbjerg deserves a lot of credit. Go and watch his contribution to those first 20 minutes again. He was key.

Also, why is all the credit on Ange and not the player who actually came on and did the job Bissouma couldn’t.